Here’s the press release from the Palm Beach County Sports Commission that announces UConn Huskies kicker Dave Teggart as one of the 30 players on the the Lou Groza Award watch list.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Danny Hrapmann, David Ruffer and Blair Walsh, all finalists for previous Groza Awards, head up the 30 player watch list released today by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The only previous Groza winner to repeat is current Oakland Raider kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who received the honor in 1998 & 1999, while playing for Florida State.
Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2010 season and 2011 pre-season expectations. Nine semi-finalists are returning from 2010, including Michigan State junior Dan Conroy, who was twice the recipient of the National Placekicker of the Week award and whose 93.3% field goal percentage was fifth in the nation in kicking accuracy. Duke University senior Will Synderwine, a two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist, is first among active kickers nationally in career field goals made per game (1.65) and third in career field goal percentage (0.864). Sophomore Ross Krautman of Syracuse University, named a freshman All-American by Sporting News and Rivals.com, lead the Big East in field goal accuracy by converting on 18 of his 19 field goal attempts. The Big 12 leads all conferences with 5 kickers on the Pre-season Watch List. The Big 10, ACC, and Big East each have 4 kickers on the list. The SEC and Pac-10, both represented in the 2011 BCS National Championship, have 3 kickers each on the list. The Groza Committee will be watching all FBS kickers during the season, and releasing a weekly “Stars of the Week” feature on www.lougrozaaward.com.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award announces its 20 semi-finalists on Friday, October 28, 2011. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the top three (3) finalists for the award by Monday, November 21, 2011. That same group then selects the national winner which will be announced Thursday, December 8, 2011, during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Award Show, broadcast live from Orlando, FL.
The 20th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee, recognizes the three (3) finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 6, prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.
The Award, is named for National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an “All Pro” offensive lineman, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to follow the season progress, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com.
To continue reading and see the full list, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
National College Football Awards Association
The Lou Groza Place Kicker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, ncfaa.org.
The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a 13-day period this month. Fifteen of the association’s 21 awards select a preseason watch list and this is the first time the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the complete 2011 preseason watch list calendar:
Tues., July 5: Maxwell Award/Bednarik Award
Wed., July 6: Biletnikoff Award/Mackey Award
Thurs., July 7: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Fri., July 8: Bronko Nagurski Trophy/Outland Trophy
Mon., July 11: Jim Thorpe Award
Tues., July 12: Rotary Lombardi Award
Wed., July 13: Rimington Trophy
Thurs., July 14: Butkus Award
Fri., July 15: Davey O’Brien Award/Doak Walker Award
Mon., July 18: Walter Camp Award
About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Awards program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches and awards the annual Sam Budnyk Student-Athlete Scholarship. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission go to www.palmbeachsports.com.
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2011 Pre-season Lou Groza Award Watch List In Alphabetical Order |
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|
Last Name |
First Name |
School |
Year |
Notes |
||||
|
Barbour |
Michael |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
16 |
18 |
88.9 |
104 |
All-Conference USA Second Team for the 2010 college football season as selected by the league’s 12 head football coaches. Barbour has made 16 of his last 18 field goals (88.9%) and had converted 12 straight before a 50-yard miss. His longest is from 52 yards. It was the longest by an ECU kicker since Ben Hartman’s 52-yard make in 2007. Barbour has set the ECU single-season record for points scored by a kicker with 104 (16 FGs, 56 PAT). Barbour’s 56 PAT are also a program single-year record. |
|
Barth |
Casey |
North Carolina |
Sr. |
19 |
22 |
86.4 |
95 |
2010 All ACC honorable mention. Kicked the winning field goal in the Music City Bowl in double-overtime. Barth was reliable throughout the entire season, making 19-of-22 field goal attempts. Made 38-of-38 extra points on the season, scoring a total of 95 points in the 2010 season. |
|
Beard |
Rob |
Oregon |
Jr. |
10 |
13 |
76.9 |
93 |
All-Pac-10 fourth team according to Phil Steele Publications. Ranked fourth in the Pac-10 and 36th nationally in scoring with an average of 8.08 points per game. Ranked eighth on the UO single-season scoring list with 97 points. Made his first eight field goal attempts of the season and finished 10-for-13 (76.9%), which was good for 10th in a single season at Oregon. Hit on his first 59 PAT kicks of the year before missing. Rushed for a pair of 2-point conversions, including one in the BCS Championship Game vs. Auburn. |
|
Bonani |
Maikon |
USF |
Jr. |
17 |
21 |
81.0 |
69 |
Played in all 13 games. Handled the kickoff duties during the first 9 games and the place-kicking duties for the last 11 games. Made 17-of-21 field goal attempts. The 81.0 field goal percentage ranks first on USF’s single-season list and was second in the BIG EAST. The 17 made field goals ranks second on USF’s single-season list. Awarded BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week after making 47 and 21-yard field goals and converting two extra points against Rutgers. |
|
Bullock |
Randy |
Texas A&M |
Sr. |
16 |
21 |
76.2 |
98 |
Selected All-Big 12 Honorable Mention for the 2010 college football season as selected by the Big 12 coaches. Scoring a total of 98 points with 16-of-21 field goal attempts, and a perfect 50-of-50 extra point attempts. |
|
Conroy |
Dan |
Michigan St. |
Jr. |
14 |
15 |
93.3 |
87 |
A 2010 Lou Groza Award semi-finalist, Conroy went 14-of-15 in field goals to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and media in his first year, as the starting place kicker. One of two recipients of the Tommy Love Award, which is awarded to the team’s most improved player. Named National Placekicker of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards on two occasions, and Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week in 2010. |
|
Dimke |
Derek |
Illinois |
Sr. |
24 |
29 |
82.8 |
115 |
A 2010 Lou Groza Award semifinalist. Named Second-team All-Big Ten selection by coaches and honorable mention by media. Phil Steele’s first-team All-Big Ten. Hit 24-of-29 field goals and 43-of-43 extra points on the season. Scored 115 points in 2010, which ranks second on the Illinois season scoring list. 24 makes tied the Illinois season field goals record. Led Big Ten and ranked sixth in the nation in field goals (1.85 per game. Ranked third in the Big Ten in kick scoring. Ranked fifth in the Big Ten and 17th in the nation in overall scoring (8.8 ppg). Ranked fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (82.8). |
|
Evans |
Ross |
TCU |
Sr. |
11 |
13 |
84.6 |
101 |
Appeared on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, honoring the nation’s top placekicker. Ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in scoring with 101 points while tying for 48th nationally at 7.8 points per game. Set a TCU single-game record with nine extra points. Scored in double figures in the Frogs’ final three regular season games. Made his first eight field goal attempts of the season and kicked a season-long 43-yard field goal. |
|
Ewald |
Mitch |
Indiana |
So. |
18 |
21 |
85.7 |
89 |
Earned co-Big Ten Special Teams and Freshman Player of the Week. Received honorable mention All-Big Ten from the league’s coaches. Recognized on CollegeFootballNews.com All-Freshman team. Selected to ESPN.com and Rivals.com All-Freshman teams. Academic All-Big Ten selection. |
|
Farquhar |
Trey |
Idaho |
Jr. |
18 |
25 |
72.0 |
94 |
Named Verizon WAC Special Teams Player of the Week early in the 2010 season. Farquhar went on to finish 18-of-25 field goal attempts (72.0%) with 50 being his longest. Totaled 94 points as a sophomore. |
|
Folk |
Erik |
Washington |
Sr. |
13 |
20 |
65.0 |
72 |
Named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week after the USC game. Named Academic All-Pac-10 honorable mention. Made 13-of-20 field goals and all 33 PAT attempts for the season. 68-for-68 on PATs for his career, the second-best record in Husky history. |
|
Freese |
Nate |
Boston College |
So. |
22 |
25 |
88.0 |
90 |
Appeared in all 13 games. Went 20-for-23 on field goals during the 2010 year, and 23-for-24 on extra points. Ranks second on the Boston College single season field goals list with 20. First BC kicker to hit four field goals in two different games in the same season. Named to the Collegefootballnews.com Freshman All-America team. |
|
Goessling |
Kevin |
Fresno State |
Jr. |
21 |
26 |
80.8 |
105 |
Two-time Groza Award semifinalist. All-WAC First Team for the 2010 college football season as selected by the WAC’s nine head coaches. A veteran returning as a three-year letter-winner, having hit on 21 field goals in 2010 to go along with 42 extra points. |
|
Griffin |
Jack |
Florida Int’l |
Jr. |
17 |
20 |
85.0 |
96 |
Griffin was one of the best kickers in the Sun Belt last season, making 17-of-20 field goals attempted (85.0%). He also made all 45 PATs attempted to total up 96 points in the 2010 season. |
|
Hocker |
Zach |
Arkansas |
So. |
16 |
19 |
84.2 |
104 |
Zach Hocker was perfect on all of his 56 extra point attempts while hitting 16-of-19 field goal attempts last season. The Razorback offense is the most potent in the SEC which makes Hocker a first-tier option in BCS leagues. |
|
Hopkins |
Dustin |
Florida State |
Jr. |
22 |
28 |
78.6 |
119 |
A semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2010, which is presented to the nation’s top place kicker. A two-year starter, he has handled all of the kickoff, field goal and PAT kicks for the Seminoles. Scored a career-high 119 points, which led the team and the ACC and was the third-most in a single-season in FSU history. Hopkins is just the 10th kicker in FSU history to score 100 points in a season and the 12th player overall to eclipse the century mark. |
|
Hrapmann |
Danny |
Southern Miss. |
Jr. |
26 |
31 |
83.9 |
133 |
A 2010 Lou Groza Award finalist. First-team All-America by the Walter Camp Foundation. He is first Golden Eagle and only second USM player overall to earn First-Team honors by that organization. Named second-team All-America by CBSSports.com. A first-team All-Conference USA selection at place kicker. Mid-season All-America pick by SI.com. A two-time Groza Award “Star of the Week”. C-USA’s Special Teams Player of the Week. Ranks No.1 on the Golden Eagle season chart for kicking points (129), field goals made (26) and extra points (51).Tied for first nationally in made field goals per game (2.17) and fifth in scoring (10.75). Tops Conference USA in field goal percentage (86.7%) and tied for first in PAT kick percentage (100%). |
|
Jones |
Aaron |
Baylor |
So. |
19 |
27 |
70.4 |
103 |
A Semifinalist for Lou Groza Award in 2010. Earned All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Freshman honors following record-setting first season of competition. Walk-on won starting job in fall and kicked all field goals and extra points. Named honorable mention All-Big 12 (league coaches) and Big 12 All-Freshman (ESPN.com, Rivals.com). Earned honorable mention Freshman All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com. Garnered second-team Postseason All-Freshman honors from Phil Steele. Broke school’s single-season records for field goals made (19), scoring by kickers (103 points), field goals attempted (27), PATs attempted (47) and shares the PATs made record (46) with Jarvis Van Dyke. Averaged 1.46 field goals per game. Ranked fourth in Big 12 and tied for 17th nationally. With 7.92 points-per-game ranked eighth in Big 12 and 45th nationally. |
|
Krautman |
Ross |
Syracuse |
So. |
18 |
19 |
94.7 |
84 |
Sporting News and Rivals.com Freshman All-American. All-BIG EAST Second Team selection. Phil Steele’s All-BIG EAST First Team selection. His 18 total field goals ties the SU single-season record. His 16 consecutive field goals made streak matches the Syracuse record for consecutive field goals. Tied for 21st nationally and tied for second among BIG EAST kickers with 1.38 field goals per game. His .947 field goal percentage ties the Syracuse single-season record and leads the BIG EAST. Ranks third among conference kickers with 6.5 points per game. |
|
Perez |
Abel |
San Diego St. |
Sr. |
17 |
22 |
77.3 |
105 |
Selected All-Mountain West Second Team for the 2010 college football season as selected by the nine league head coaches and select media panel. SDSU junior place-kicker Abel Perez, in his first season on The Mesa, posted a league-best 28 touchbacks on kick offs and converted 17 of his 22 field-goal attempts (77.3 %). He leads the MWC in field goals per game (1.42) and in scoring (8.3 ppg.). |
|
Ressel |
Grant |
Missouri |
Sr. |
17 |
19 |
89.5 |
96 |
A two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist, Ressel made a combined 96.2% (127-of-132) of his total kicks over the last two seasons (43-of-46 FGs & 84-of-86 PATs). His 213 career points stands as 6th-most in MU history entering the season, and he’s got a great chance of becoming only the 2nd 300-point scorer in Tiger history. All-Big 12 Honorable mention. ESPN/CoSIDA 1st-Team Academic All-District. |
|
Rose |
Bryson |
Ole Miss |
Jr. |
16 |
18 |
88.9 |
91 |
Named first team Sophomore All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com. Served as the team’s placekicker in all 12 games. Finished third in the SEC with 1.33 field goals made per game. Ranked 10th in the SEC in scoring (7.6 ppg) and fifth among kickers. Connected on 16-of-18 field goals and 43-of-44 PATs in the 2010 season. |
|
Ruffer |
David |
Notre Dame |
GS. |
18 |
19 |
94.7 |
91 |
Finalist for the 2010 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. One of six fifth-year seniors on scholarship on 2011 Irish roster. Named to the 2010 First Team ESPN Academic All-America Football Team. Captured the 2010 Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Rockne Student-Athlete Award. Returning field goal kicker that converted 23 consecutive field goals to open career. The 23 straight field goals was the longest active streak in the FBS. Named John Folmer Most Valuable Special Teams Player at Hyundai Sun Bowl. |
|
Stevens |
Jimmy |
Oklahoma |
Sr. |
19 |
23 |
82.6 |
110 |
Played in 12 games, serving as the backup kicker in the first three before returning to the starting lineup at Cincinnati. Stevens had the fifth-best single-season field goal total in OU history. Tied OU record for most points in a game by a kicker with 17. Stevens hit 12 of his last 13 field goals. Had at least 10 points in six games including the last four. Ranked No. 10 at OU in career points scored with 288 points. Named Academic All-Big 12 second team. |
|
Synderwine |
Will |
Duke |
Sr. |
17 |
20 |
85.0 |
75 |
Snyderwine is a two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist. Received pre-season second team All-America accolades from Sporting News. Snyderwine enters his final season having made 38-of-44 (.864) field goals and all 56 of his PAT attempts. Among active players nationally, he ranks first in career field goals made per game (1.65) and third in career field goal percentage. |
|
Teggart |
Dave |
UConn |
Sr. |
25 |
31 |
80.6 |
111 |
Selected All-BIG EAST First Team for the 2010 college football season as selected by a vote of the league’s eight head football coaches. Teggart, who was a perfect 36-for-36 on extra point attempts this season, converted 25 of his 31 field goals, including both attempts from 50-yards or more – both of which came in UConn’s 16-13 win over USF. Through the end of the regular season he led the BIG EAST in field goals made, averaging 1.92 per game. |
|
Tucker |
Justin |
Texas |
Sr. |
23 |
27 |
85.2 |
96 |
Appeared in all 12 games. An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press . Converted 23-of-27 FG attempts (.852) and all 27 PAT attempts for 96 points. His 23 made FGs rank second on the UT single-season list and were sixth-most nationally in 2010, while his average of 1.92 made FG per game was fifth nationally. |
|
Walsh |
Blair |
Georgia |
Sr. |
20 |
23 |
87.0 |
106 |
Named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2010 and a finalist in 2009. Named All-SEC First Team by SEC Coaches and Second Team by Associated Press, Phil Steele and Rivals.com. Appeared in 13 games going 20-for-23 on FGs and 46-for-47 on PATs while also kicking off 74 times for 4,875 yards (65.9 avg.) with 12 touchbacks. Ranked second in the SEC in field goals per game at 1.54. |
|
Welch |
Phillip |
Wisconsin |
Sr. |
17 |
22 |
77.3 |
118 |
Consensus All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Named first-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports and second-team by Phil Steele. Played in all 13 games. Owns school record with 67 extra points made and attempted in one season at UW, tied for best mark in school history with 100 percent accuracy on extra points. 118 points is most ever by a UW kicker and fourth-best for one season at UW. 17 field goals made and 22 field goals attempted each tied for sixth-most in one season at UW. |
|
Zendejas |
Alex |
Arizona |
Sr. |
14 |
19 |
73.7 |
83 |
Cats’ leading scorer past two seasons with 172 points. Lou Groza Award watch list in 2010. Career 75% on field goals, among top 10 in UA history. Ranked No. 10 on UA career scoring chart in two years of kicking. Hit 14-of-19 FG tries (.734) in 2010 including three against UCLA to earn College Football Performance Awards national Place Kicker of the week. |
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